Combined shoe lacing and tongue holder.



PATENTED FEB. 18, 1908.

0. J. KEY.

COMBINED SHOE LAGING AND TONGUE HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 26. 1907.

INTO/C,

LLIITNESSJTS;

' A TTORNE Y5.

time STATES PAE enric CALVIN JONES KEY, OF MACON, GEORGIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JESSIE B. KEY, OF

AUGU STA GEORGIA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 18, 1908.

Applicatln filed July 26. 1907. Serial No. 385.742.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, CALVIN J. KEY, a citizen of the United States, residing. at Macon, in the county of Bibb and State of Georgia, have invented a new and. useful Combined Shoe Lacing and Tongue Holder, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a novel form of combined shoe lacing fastener and tongue holder.

The object of the invention is in a thoroughly practical and positive manner and withoutdctracting from theappearance of a shoe or sensibly increasing its cost of production, to effect the securing of the lacing knot in such manner as to preclude loosening or accidental untying thereof, and at the same time to hold the tongue in position against working laterally or downwardly.

With the above and other objects in view as will appear as the' nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction and combination of parts of a combined shoe lacing fastener and tongue holder, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like characters of reference indicate correspondi g parts,Figure 1 is a view in elevation of t e upper portion of a shoe, displaying the fastener combined with the tongue thereof, and exhibitingthe first tie taken to form a knot. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the completed knot and the manner in which the attachment serves to hold the same against unfastening and also to retain the tongue in place. Fig. 3 is a perspective detail view of a portion of the tongue showing the fastener applied thereto. Fig. 4 is a veritieal longitudinal sectional view through the tongue. Fig. 5 1s a transverse sectional View through. the upper portion of the fastener.

Referring to the drawings, U designates the upper of a shoe and T the tongue thereof, and-as these parts may be of the usual or any preferred construction further description is deemed unnecessary.

The resent invention resides in a novel form .0 combined shoe lacing fastener and tongue holder that is designed to be permanently attached to the tongue. This fastener'comprises a knot-engaging member 1 and a clamping member 2.

y The knot-engaging member .1 is constructed of a strip of steel, of any desired width, and has its upper end formed into a down-turned hook 3, the terminal of which is pointed, and the intermediate portion of which is transversely reduced from'a point adjacent to the terminal to the point where it merges into the body of the hook, as shown at 4. The reason for reducing the hook in this manner is to cause it to be more resilient in operation, and more attractive in appearance. The clamping member is constructed from a strip of resilient metal, and has its upper end outwardly curved and provided with a crotch 5 that defines two points 6 and 7 that will enter the knot of the lacing when the same is tied and therebv positively prevent untying. I

The fastener is secured to the tongue, in this instance by two rivets 8 and 9, the rivet 8 being passed throughthe shank of the knotengaging member and through a plate 10 on the rear side of the tongue, and the rivet 9 through the member 2, shank of the member 1 and plate 10, the inner ends of the rivets bein upset, as clearly shown at 11 to insure a sta le assemblage between the parts.

In securing a lacing in position with this fastener, the tongueis first adjusted properly. This will cause the fastener to project between the op osed edges of the flies, as shown in Fig. 1. 1e lacing L is then looped in the I usual manner and forced u Ward between the hook 3 and the crotch one of the member 2, this movement causing the clamping member to move rearwardly. 'lhe 'bow knot is then completed and the knot forced under the hook 3, thereby causing the points 6 and 7 to enter the knot the clamping member by its inherent resiliency pressing the knot against the inner wall of the hook 3, so that it will be firmly secured against loosenin As the terminal of the hook 3 is inturnc it will notmember.

over the terminal and provided with an'intermediate reduced portion.

3. The combination with a shoe tongue, of a lacing clamping member comprising a resilient plate provided with a crotched upper terminal, a knot engaging member having a hook disposed over the terminal, and means for securing the two members to the tongue.

4. The combination with a shoe tongue, of a lacing clamping member provided with a crotched terminal, a knot-engagin member having an intermediately reduced liook terminal disposed over the crotched portion of the clamping member, a plate disposed on the rear side of the tongue, and rivets assing through the two members and the' p ate to hold the arts assembled.

In testlmony that 1 claim the foregoing as my.own, I have hereto allixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CALVIN JONES KEY,

Witnesses:

C. '1. GARDEN, CHARLES B. ()mvm. 

